NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 21 February 1927, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

'Ware Pickpockets! At festival time piek[>ockets find their harvests among the crowd, and there is little doubt that people who do not take special care will be made aware of the fact to their cost this week. That the light-fingered gentry arc about was evidenced by •''dress rehearsals" at Wanganui, where one visitor to the races is said to have had his pocket picked of a ''roll" containing £75. There were minor losses in the same w&y also, and at one of the Wanganui hotels thieves "did"' the bedrooms of the guests very successfully. Those abroad to watch the processions and other festivities connected with the ducal visit will be well advised to carry as little monev as possible on their persons, and guests at the hotels are advised to lock their bedroom doors when thev retire. Automatic Telephones For Takapuna. After midnight to-night users of the telephone at Takapuna will be "listening for the humming sound," for at that hour the system is to bo switched over from manual to automatic. Some three hundred subscribers will be affected by the change. With the addition of Takapuna, the total number of automatic telephones in Auckland exceeds 11,500, exclusive of switch telephones and non-listed lines, and the only districts still having the manual svstcm are Birkenhead, Avondale, Otahuhu, Henderson, Panatoetoe and St. Helier's. Auckland's Model Engineers. Auckland possesses a very much alive Model Engineering Society, which recently held a very successful exhibition. Two of the" models which were displayed on that occasion were sent to the Dannevirke A. and I'. Show, and advice has now been received to tho effect that both gained first awards in the competitions for model engineering exhibits. Mr. S. A. Moren was awarded first prize in the senior competition, his exhibit being a marine petrol engine, and in the junior competition Mr. J. Eastmure's model of a '•River' class destroyer—a trulv clever and painstaking example—gained first place. A Real Bull Fight. Motorists on the Pakuranga Road at about mid-day yesterday experienced an unusual thrilL A pedigree Jersey bull in a paddock alongside the hall smashed through a fence and came on to the road. This action was apparently accepted as a challenge by another bull on the opposite side, which in turn broke through its fence, and for about a-quarter of an hour the infuriated animals battled in the roadwav. Finally one of the bulls, rather badly gored, retired from the contest, and meekly suffered himself to bo driven into an adjacent paddock bv a neighbouring farmer. " The Maori and the Visitor. A prominent Wanganui Maori points out that it is evident from the remarks made by American tourists from time to time, and particularly the recent visitors, that they are being very inadequately informed regarding the Maoris, and particularly in regard to historical places visited during their tours (wires our Wanganui representative). He suggests in regard to the Wanganui River that instead of tourists bcinc accompanied by pakehas, with only scanty know* I ledgo of Maori traditions and of the Maori of to-day, arrangements should be made by the Government for representatives of the Maori race of acknowledged standing, educationally and otherwise, to accompany the parties down the river. Visitors would thus be given an opportunity of fraternising with the Maori race and glean a great deal more information than thev do at present. Blackberrying on the West Coast. Gradually the West Coast road surrenders itself to civilisation. Hitherto its joys have been mostly known to the "hiker," who, with haversack slunk to the shoulders, has been able to ignore the clay bogs and deep ruts that wring the heart of tho motorist. During the heavy rains of last winter a great number'of cars were held up, the way being practically intraversible. Recently, however, the County Council has been at work metalling those parts that cause most trouble during the rainy season. Patches of shining white metal loom up against the yellow clay—a boon to the motorist, but a curse "to the feet of the walker, to whom the clay is easy going. It is in the summer time that the road is most popular. On any Sunday or holiday dozens of cars full of picknickers can be seen making for the West Coast, and now that tho blackberry season is in full swing, the road that leads to Piha proves a happy hunting ground. Helensville Grows More Popular. The popularity of Helensville a s a week-end resort is growing. At one time the road was so bad that not many motorists used it, and the train journey was so exasperatingly slow that it was by no means popular. Road "improvements have altered the situation. Cars go easily through to Helensville, the road being passable even in wet weather. So good is the travelling now that even cyclists think nothing of the run, and a good many of them sojourn to Helensville for the week-ends. Four young boys were amon" the pedlara yesterday, and thev returned to the city late last night well content with their trip. Peerless Ponsonby. The peerless attractions of Pon9onbv were ably stressed by the leader of the deputation which waited upon the Auckland City Council at the last meeting to urge that JeVvois Road should be concreted for its full length. The speaker stated the deputation's case, and then, with a sturdy local patriotism, digressed to paint a vivid word-picture of the glories of the western, suburb. He dwelt lovingly upon the superlative claims of Point Erin Park, and its glorious vistas. In front is the wonderful harbour," said the deputationist, "a background is the full sweep of the northern shore from Kauri Point to rt L l ? oad ' Brown ' 3 Isl *nd in the distance, and the Waitakere Ranges in the other background Everything is to be seen at its very best in the setting summer sun, when clouds are tinned with red and gold." The deputationist concluded with the story of an Auckland business man "He came to Ponsonby on a bicycle," said the speaker. "He stood. He gazed.' He said: 'How the devil is it that I have never discovered the«e beauties before?'" The Flag of Ireland. _ Flying from a window in Winstone's Buildings in Queen Street to-morrow morning will be the Irish Free State flag. It is understood that this will be the first occasion on which this emblem has been flown in Auckland city, although it was flown from the masthead of 'Captain yacht Saiorse. on the occasion of its visit to this port. The colours are preen, white and orange. Tho white centre is emblematic of peace between orange and green. "A Beautiful Shooter." It was telegraphed from New Plymouth that a visiting Melbourne cricketer was bowled by a "beautiful shooter." One who knows pretty Pukekura Park, with its high ten-aces and setting of lakelets and native bush, will sympathise with the batsmen. To the uninitiated, who know not the charms of the national summer game, be it explained that a "shooter" Is an 111-mannered ball from a bowler, which rises not at the psychological moment, and the effect is devastating in the extreme. In the old days of the Auckland Cricket Ground, when cricketers the world over spoke of its wonderful sward, the "shooter" was unknown, although it was common enough at one period of the historic Lords at Home, When names like Grace. Ullyett and Lyttelton loomed large in the land. In New Zealand country cricket the "shooter" has always been a possibility, but now. in representative games, it has become an exception, and not the rule. No wielder of the flowing bat knows "a beautiful shooter." When he gets one—all cricketers have their trials and tribulations—he is inclined to regard it as an additional mi&forttuoe which has overtaken him.